A month may not look like so much travel, but when you are changing hotels almost every night, running out of clean clothes (and limited options to wash them) and trying to run a business while also meeting lots of people, visiting many places and , it eventually is exhausting.
Plus I am not 25 anymore and menopause makes some days extra challenging...
I am only home for 4 days and off again to London!
In normal circumstances, I would not be excited to set off so soon after a long trip, but in this situation, I am.
In case you haven't heard me talk about this before, London is a very special city for me.
My first ever solo trip was to London in 2001, and without that trip, I would not be here today.
I would not have started on a life of travel, I would not have the international career I enjoyed for the last 25 years, I would not have worked in more than 30 countries and I would have certainly not visited 145.
I would also not have started Solo Female Travelers.
My life would have been completely different had I not spent the summer of 2001, as a fresh 20 years old, in a city where I barely spoke the language.
That summer opened my eyes to a diverse and multicultural world that did not exist in the Spain of the 90s where we were all the same.
It taught me independence, self reliance and above all, to speak English, without which I would not have got a summer internship in investment banking at JPMorgan in the city the following summer.
 |
I asked my mum if she had any photos of that summer but she only had them of 2002 when I worked at JPMorgan and she came to visit me.
I have returned to London a few times since then, but have not been back since 2018 and I am told London has changed a lot.
I will also reconnect with old friends I have not seen in a while and meet lots of interesting people at World Travel Market, the conference that brings me to the city.
But the part I am most looking forward to is the full day of exploration of London's past, present and diverse neighbourhoods on Saturday.
 |
Women in Travel CIC has put together a fantastic full day of tours especially for us, with 2 half day experiences that you can book and join, and they are now offering 50% Off on a flash sale. If you were on the fence, this is your chance to book a spot.
Magic happens when women get together, and I know we will create some of that on Saturday.
Plus you get to meet Alessandra, the founder of Women in travel CIC and an absolute fun and amazing woman who has been in travel for 30 years and is a powerhouse.
She has dedicated most of her professional career to bridging the gender gap in tourism, starting at the European Commission and now with her own not for profit organization that provides mentorship and training to women wanting to join the travel industry or already in it and trying to break the glass ceiling.
I will also love to meet you!
What else will be part of the day?
- Laughter, fun and good times
- Lots of food, drinks, coffee...
- The company of inspiring women
- An alternative to Halloween that does not involve dressing up, come as you are, we love you like that!
